Monday, November 14, 2011

Not the news that weary radiation-vigilant residents of Japan (including Tokyo Brown Tabby) wanted to hear.

But according to a new research paper by the international team of scientists to be published on the electronic version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), cesium-137 (half life 30 years) may have deposited in the soil in much wider areas including Hokkaido, Chubu, Chugoku, Shikoku in one month starting March 20. The cesium deposition in these regions is considered to be in much lower concentration than in Tohoku or Kanto, but the researchers say there may be radiation "hot spots" in these regions.

It's no surprise to anyone who used to look at the dispersion simulations by Austria's ZAMG, Germany's DWD and Norway's NILU in the early days of the nuclear crisis in March, April and May. I remember seeing large plumes engulfing Hokkaido a number of times, and occasional small plumes swiping Shikoku.

Of radioactive materials released from the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant accident, cesium-137, whose half life is 30 years, may have deposited in the soil in the mountains in Chubu and Shikoku regions, and Hokkaido, in a month starting March 20. It is a conclusion from the simulation done by the international team of scientists including those from the USRA (Universities Space Research Association), Nagoya University, and Tokyo University. Their paper will be published in the electronic version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

It is assumed that most of these areas do not have the level of contamination that may affect the health or may require decontamination. However, there may be "hot spots" with locally high radiation, and a detailed investigation may be necessary, according to the scientists.

Teppei Yasunari of USRA, Tetsuzo Yasunari of Nagoya University, and Ryugo Hayano of Tokyo University combined the global atmospheric transfer model (20-kilometer grid) developed in Norway, the meteorological data from European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) [in Redding, UK] and radiation fallout measurement data from Japan's Ministry of Education and Science to do the simulation.

According to their simulation, the cesium-137 deposition in Japan was estimated to be more than 1,000 terabecquerels in one month [starting March 20]. The simulation matched the result of the aerial survey by the Ministry of Education that showed the Pacific Ocean side of Tohoku and Kanto had a larger amount of cesium deposition. However, the simulation also shows that when the low pressures passed over the mountain areas in Chubu, Chugoku and Shikoku regions and in Hokkaido, wind that contained cesium-137 particles from Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant may have blown and the particles may have fallen with the rain and deposited in the soil.

...we expect the true soil contamination across Japan to be considerably more variable than in our estimate. Even in regions where we find relatively low soil contamination levels, hot spots with high concentrations (e.g., due to convective rain fall, orographic enhancement of rainfall, or fine-grain soil flow by rainwater on the ground) may be possible. In contrast, relatively clean patches may also be present in areas with high overall contamination levels.

So when will proud Japan finally admit that the entire country is now a contaminated sh*t hole. They have destroyed the once beautiful nation I called home for the next several thousands of years. These idiot criminals. Look at that simulation map and try not to cry with rage at what has happened. The Japan we all knew and loved is FINISHED. Take action now people of Japan.

One month survey results.It is more than 6 months later.Here is a bit from Koichi Yasuda/Yomuri Shimbun Staff Writer's trip on the tour bus...At that time, the dosimeter in the bus suddenly showed high readings. It measured 800 microsieverts per hour in front of the No. 4 turbine building and 1 millisieverts-or 1,000 microsieverts- per hour in front of the No. 3 building. "[The high radiation] is caused by radiation-contaminated debris scattered by the hydrogen explosions," said an official of Tokyo Electric Power Co., the plant's operator."It's also because radiation has been leaking from the damaged buildings."Leaking?? Please watch some of the not so invisible leaks on 6/14, 8/4, and 10/22 on the fuku1live YouTube channel (time lapse TEPCO cam footage).My heart breaks a little more each day for all 7 Billion of us.

About my coverage of Japan Earthquake of March 11

I am Japanese, and I not only read Japanese news sources for information on earthquake and the Fukushima Nuke Plant but also watch press conferences via the Internet when I can and summarize my findings, adding my observations.

About This Site

Well, this was, until March 11, 2011. Now it is taken over by the events in Japan, first earthquake and tsunami but quickly by the nuke reactor accident. It continues to be a one-person (me) blog, and I haven't even managed to update the sidebars after 5 months... Thanks for coming, spread the word.------------------This is an aggregator site of blogs coming out of SKF (double-short financials ETF) message board at Yahoo.

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